But in the long term, market researcher IDC sees these strains as less important than commercial and industrial robots, which, along with drones and robot-related services, could become a $188 billion worldwide market by 2020, only a few short years away.

"This growth is really fueled by a combination of technology improvements, expanded use cases, and acceptance in the market. Innovators in the field of robotics are delivering robots that can be used to perform a broader range of tasks, which is helping to drive the adoption of robotics into a wider base of industries," John Santagate, research manager of supply chain at IDC Manufacturing Insights, said in a statement Tuesday.